Himachal continues to grapple with unrelenting monsoon wrath, Mandi bears the brunt

Himachal Pradesh remains in the grip of unyielding monsoon havoc as heavy rains wreak havoc in the region, with Mandi district at the forefront of the onslaught. The district, still grappling with the aftermath of recent natural calamities, has been battered by heavy rains, leading to flash floods, landslides, and extensive destruction of both public and private property.

Worst-hit areas and relentless rainfall

Sub-divisions like Balh, Gohar, Sundernagar, and Dharampur have borne the brunt of this latest calamity. The torrential downpour has persisted for over two days, causing floods and triggering fresh landslides. Notably, Sundernagar received 166.1 mm of rain, Gohar 130 mm, Mandi 115.8 mm, Baldwara 80 mm, and Karsog and Pandoh 70 mm each. The relentless rainfall prompted the MeT department’s Shimla centre director, Surender Paul, to issue a flash flood warning across Mandi, Shimla, Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Kullu.

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Mandi's superintendent of police, Soumya Sambasivan, advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from water streams. Balh Valley, bearing the brunt of the disaster, has witnessed waterlogging in over 50 villages. Hundreds of hectares of paddy, maize, and vegetable crops have been damaged, while roads, vehicles, and houses have been submerged.

Infrastructure woes

The Kiratpur-Manali highway faced waterlogging, and floodwaters entered the basement of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College in Ner Chowk. Despite these challenges, Mandi's deputy commissioner, Arindam Chaudhary, confirmed no loss of life so far.

Over 300 houses have suffered damage in the Balh region, with a cloudburst in Chunahan of Nachan assembly segment triggering a flash flood. Efforts are ongoing to manage the situation and provide aid to affected areas. The Mandi-Manali highway remains blocked due to frequent landslides near Pandoh, leading to road blockages in 236 locations across Mandi district.

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Nature's fury in Shimla and Bilaspur

Shimla and Bilaspur districts also witnessed the fury of the monsoon. Over 40 uprooted trees disrupted the capital town, and landslides damaged vehicles and property. A tree falling on a private bus in Shimla left one person injured. Meanwhile, in Bilaspur, flash floods swept away vehicles and blocked highways.

HRTC bus services have been rerouted, and connectivity issues persist in Shimla's upper region. Adverse weather conditions prompted the closure of schools in Shimla. As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath, authorities are actively addressing road blockages and power malfunctions, focusing on restoring normalcy amid the monsoon's relentless onslaught.